Article

Analyse racial disparities in clinical outcomes after stroke in
inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRF). METHODS: Analyses based on data from a
multi-center prospective observational cohort study on inpatient stroke
rehabilitation in six IRFs from across the United States. Multivariate models
examined racial disparities in functional outcomes upon discharge, taking into
account patient characteristics and detailed information on processes of care.
RESULTS: In the moderate stroke group (N = 397), functional scores on admission
were not significantly different between African-Americans and whites. In the
severe stroke group (N = 335), whites showed significantly lower functional
scores at admission [Functional Independence Measurement, (FIM)], mean scores, 44
versus 49 for African-Americans, p < 0.001). Multivariate analyses predicting
discharge motor FIM score found no significant differences between
African-American and white stroke patients (p = 0.2194 and p = 0.3547 in the
moderate and severe stroke group, respectively). CONCLUSION: Controlling for
patient characteristics, therapy intensity and processes of care results in
non-significant differences between African-Americans and whites in motor FIM
scores upon discharge.
The absence of significant differences in recovery while
patients were on the rehabilitation unit suggests that racial disparities in
long-term functional recovery after stroke are likely to have originated before
or after the inpatient rehabilitation stay.

Langue : ANGLAIS